Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum

The world renowned Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center (commonly known as ATOM) is on exhibit for the 3rd time at the Transylvania Heritage Museum. It will be open Wednesday through Saturday from Saturday, November 12 until Saturday, December 24 (except November 23rd through November 25th). Many examples of the ultimate sustainable Christmas trees that were chic in the 1950’s are included. ATOM has been featured in Southern Living, Money magazine, the New York Times, and heard on National Public Radio, BBC and seen in many other publications who are especially in-the-know. Revolving color wheels spotlight the tacky and outrageous. An Elvis themed tree sports cutouts of the rock 'n' roll icon, while a Marilyn Monroe tree reminds us of the beauty queen of the same era as the trees.

How did this get started? In 1991, a friend jokingly gave Steven Jackson, local home designer, tattered aluminum Christmas tree pilfered from a garbage heap. Remembering the silver tree in his childhood home, Jackson threw a party and invited guests to bring the "most aesthetically challenged" ornaments they could find. The gathering was a big hit. The few years later, someone gave Steven a second tree unearthed at a yard sale and by 1998, Jackson owned seven. "It was just too many trees to fit in my house." Over the years, the Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center snowballed as friends nabbed more trees from flea markets and dusty attics. The current exhibit features over 2 dozen trees.

Romanticasheville.com said: Here's a fun, unique holiday outing that will make you smile and brighten your day. The Aluminum Tree & Ornament Museum (ATOM), the world's only museum dedicated to vintage aluminum Christmas trees. In 2012, jauted.com said: As evidenced from the museum's cheeky name, this isn't some highbrow collection. [ATOM] puts shining holiday gaudiness on display in North Carolina's Transylvania Heritage Museum.

In a region where people are adamant about protecting nature, ATOM strives to preserve the legacy of the distant cousin of our forest trees, the Aluminum Christmas Tree.

The Exhibit will be on display at the Transylvania Heritage Museum November 12th - December 24th (except November 23rd through November 25th), Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm, and Saturday from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. Join us and experience a whimical and wacky adventure!